IF IT’S DIFFERENT, IT’S NOT THE SAME

All churches are not preaching the same message.

Galatians 1:9, As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

I heard a story once how when the folks in the US Mint were looking for counterfeit currency, they would not study the counterfeit. They would study the real bills! Friend, if you want to see the real Gospel, get into the Word of God, learning what the true Gospel is about. It’s not a gospel of prosperity, a charismatic gospel, and bloodless gospel, or any other “gospel” that isn’t the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Anything that isn’t the truth should be avoided like a plague.

            Do you know the difference? Have you studied and learned what the true Gospel is about? The true Gospel isn’t as much about you as it is about Jesus! It’s about how He came to seek and save that which was lost. It’s about how He got up on the tree to die for you and me! It’s about the blood He shed on Calvary! It’s about He arose from the dead, conquering death, hell, and the grave, setting the captives free!

            Still confused? GET UP, GET READY, and GO to a Bible believing church this morning!  

PAY THE MAN

If someone has done something for you, pay them what you agreed upon.

1 Timothy 5:18, For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

On a couple of occasions, when I was running my own business, I had people to tell me after I finished the work, “Can I wait to pay you….?” I don’t believe anyone would mind it if the customer set that up prior to starting the job because then they know what to expect. I know I didn’t. But to wait until you finish the job to ask, now that’s just rude and disrespectful.

            Friend, the Word of God speaks a lot about taking care of your responsibilities. It even speaks of the responsibility of paying those you have hired to do a job. So, be respectful and responsible and honor the Lord in your business dealings by paying the people you owe.

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him. -Law

1 Samuel 7:5, And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.

In my opinion, outside of sharing the Gospel with someone, there is no greater thing we can do for someone else than praying for them. We can pray for their salvation, pray for their health, pray for their success, pray for their needs, pray for their protection, etc. We can go before the Lord in intercessory prayer for our friends, family, and folks we barely know. It makes a difference--not only in that person’s life but our lives as well!

Who will you pray for today?

SEEKING WISDOM

He who provides for this life, but takes no care for eternity, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever. -Tillotson

Proverbs 4:7, Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

            I have seen many people seek after education, a career, fame, fortune, and even a spouse. They continue to seek after these things never quite being satisfied with what they get when they get it. The education leads to a degree that doesn’t have a job attached to it. When fame comes it leaves the popular lonelier than when they were unknown. The fortune drives them to a recluse life thinking everyone is after their stash. The spouse God had intended for them to have is replaced with a self-centered lost man or woman that doesn’t know how to love anyone except themselves.

            I want to challenge you this morning to,” … seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness”. As you do, you will learn of your sinful life. You will learn about His righteousness. You will learn about the love of the Lord Jesus. You will learn what you need to do to be saved. And when you do get saved,” … all these things shall be added unto you”, truly learning the wisdom of the Lord!

DON’T LOSE HOPE!

Satan would tempt us to despair; but good hope keeps us trusting in God and rejoicing in him. -Henry

1 Peter 1:13, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

            There is a lot of chaos going on in the world today. He said/she said, who did it, why did it happen, etc. We could get wrapped up in all of the mess but why? Does it really mean anything? Will it change anything if we do? We could fret and worry but at the end of the day it will not make one iota of a difference.  

            Such as it is in our individual lives. We could fret and worry over the situations we are currently in but why should we? The Lord knew we would be here before we did. He has prepared this day for us. What we do in and with this day is up to us. Either we can fret and worry or we can rejoice in that He is the God of today just as He was yesterday and the day before that! As for me, I will rejoice in the day the Lord hath made! I will be glad in it!

THE LOCAL CHURCH IS IMPORTANT

            The living Church, though never neat, keeps God's world from complete disaster. -Macleod

Psalm 92:13, Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

            Made up of those who have repented and trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour, the local church is a vital part of any society it is planted in. As one looks throughout history, the true family of God has evangelized the lost drawing whole cultures from cannibalism, genocide, and away from tyrannical governments. The impact of the church is a recorded history that many want to rewrite in order to stamp out the freedoms it can bring.

            The church is really that important! Yet, many want to silence the voice of the believer. They want to tax away the church--the very organization that has done more to help set free those captivated by sin than any other “program”! Will you help the local church to thrive so it will survive? If so, you must support it not only with your time and talents, but your treasures as well!

WICKEDNESS TO THE CORE

If a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster. - D.L. Moody

Proverbs 28:25-26, He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

            Pride is a dominate characteristic in the world today. It’s not the good type of pride in which we take pride in our job or other responsibilities. We have the wrong type of pride in which we think we are all that in every aspect of life. We have the wrong type of pride in the place which we live, wrong pride of race, and even the wrong type of pride in the grace in which God has bestowed upon the believer.

            I’m thankful and proud that I’m an American. I believe it to be the greatest country on earth but that does not mean we are any better than anyone else. I’m content in the race God made me. Not because I’m white but because it is the race God wanted me to be. We ought to be thankful God created us the way He created us. I’m also thankful for the grace God bestowed upon my life. Not because I deserved it because I didn’t. I deserved hell! I deserved to be eternally separated from God but God, who is rich and mercy saved me from my sin! That ought to humble us unto obedience!

            What we need is a big ole dose of humility--Humbling ourselves before God in obedience to do His will for our lives. His will consists of: being saved, being sanctified, and serving Him all the days of our lives.

HAVE FAITH DEAR FRIEND

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

Romans 1:17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

            Throughout the pages of the Bible we see many different circumstances and situations play out before our eyes. Some of those stories end with a display of God’s great power and strength, giving the believer victory. Others stories end with distress, destruction, and even death. What made the difference? What determined a different outcome? Faith!

            Faith is our victory friend! Saving faith! Daily faith! Even dying faith is needed! If your faith is waning this morning, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH, having your faith recharged from the Word of God! He will surely give you faith to face the trial you’re in now or the one tomorrow may hold!

SEEING AND SEIZING ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS

Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice at your door. -Chamfort

Acts 26:28, Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

            Paul saw opportunities around him quite often to share Jesus. The difference between Paul and many Christians today is that Paul seized the opportunity to tell them. One of such instances was when Paul had been taken to Rome to stand trial after he had appealed to Rome since he was a Roman citizen.

            Paul was not a respecter of persons. He didn’t care if you were rich or poor, a King or Barbarian, Paul saw the spiritual need of their wicked hearts and seized the opportunity to share with them all Jesus.

            Do we just see the need around us? Do we walk by people every day not seeing that they are hurting? Do we ignore there are some around us that need help? Do we see the lost but keep our mouths shut?

            Lord, help us today to not only see the need of the lost, dying, and hurting world. Help us today to seize the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel for they are not guaranteed tomorrow.

STAYING BUSY FOR THE LORD

           Keep us, Lord, so awake in the duties of our callings that we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory. -Donne

Psalm 61:8, So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

            I am convinced that when I stay busy doing the things God wants me to do, I don’t have time to worry about what others are not doing! I don’t have time to point fingers and complain about their lack of service. I don’t have time to gossip.

            Are you staying busy doing the Lord’s work? If so, praise Him for the opportunities He gives you to share the Good News of the Gospel!  

GIVE IT UP!

           Greed gets you nowhere but hated!

Proverbs 3:27, Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

            There are many that live with the “Dog eat dog mentality.” They strive to be the winner at everything and at all cost. What they miss is the pleasure in giving, the pleasure in seeing others blessed by their generosity, and the pleasure in understanding how blessed they are.

            Hey friend, you want to be a blessing and see God work in your life? GIVE IT UP and be a blessing to others! You won’t have to look far! There are people all around us that could use a little of your time, a little of your talents, and maybe a little of your treasure! It’s amazing how far a little can go, when you GIVE IT UP!

BE PREPARED FOR THE BATTLES!

“Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won where the way leads to the cross.”

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

A few years ago, my former Pastor led us in a chorus of the song, “I want to die on the Battlefield.” I love this song! I have seen men and women give their lives over to the enemy only to find that the end thereof is destruction. I want to remind you this morning that we are in a battle. Your enemy is strong, wise, and lethal. He will do anything and everything to see you and your family destroyed—there are no rules to play by. But let me also remind you of these great truths friend—

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11

NO MISSIONS?

            Christianity is nothing if it’s not missionary! - John Goetsch  

Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

            It has been said that the mission of the church is missions. If a Church is not doing anything in order to win the lost for the cause of Jesus Christ, we have missed the boat! Preaching and teaching in the local church and sending out missionaries ought to be the drive in a local body of believers. This is the very reason Jesus leaves us here on Earth after we are saved; to spread the Good News of the Gospel!

            When was the last time you told someone your testimony? When is the last time you told someone they needed to repent and trust Jesus Christ as Saviour? If not today, when? Jesus a quick reminder, we are not guaranteed tomorrow….

GOOD HEALTH

The greatest way to have good health is to stay in the Word of God.

Psalm 67:1, God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

            So, the older I get the more I have been going to the doctor’s office. My eyes aren’t what they use to be. My knees ache from years crawling on them. Plantar Fasciitis kicks in every once in a while. I have had more xrays in the past 3 years than I have in the past thirty. I am thankful we have the technology and medical know how to address all of my physical health needs!

            What if there was something to address all of our spiritual health needs that, in turn, would address many of our mental and physical health needs? Something that would address worry, fear, bitterness, anger, hatred, anxiety, love, marriage, and the list goes on and on? Friend, there is something that will help every aspect of our life! It’s the Word of God! The Word of God addresses all of those issues and more. The key to getting good health is much like following the directions on the bottle of medicine; you have to read the Word of God and do what it says! “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,” James 1:22

JUST SHOW UP?

The living Church, though never neat, keeps God's world from complete disaster.-Macleod

Psalm 22:22, I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

            Just as there isn’t any perfect people, there isn’t a perfect church either. The church is made up of sinners saved by the grace of God attempting to bring honor and glory to the Saviour. Unfortunately, our sinful nature shows up sometimes and we have to ask for forgiveness, repenting of the sin committed. Does that keep you from worshiping the Lord?

            What’s keeping you from the Saviour this morning? Has someone in the church offended you? Was it the Pastor? Was it a fellow choir member? Do yourself, your church, and your family a favor today; GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! Don’t just show up! Come prepared to worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth!

WHO TOLD YOU?

Though we live in a reading age and in a reading community, yet the preaching of the gospel is the form in which human agency has been and still is most efficaciously employed for the spiritual improvement of men.  --Daniel Webster

Romans 10:13-15, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Thank God for the Preacher! I thank God for the preacher that preaches God’s Word! I thank God for the preachers that lives God’s Word! I thank God for the preachers that stand behind the pulpit and the ones that preach with their lives! Whoever told you about Jesus spoke the Words of Life into your ears! Do you know the day you trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour you became a preacher as well? Who have you told about Him? Who will you tell the greatest story ever told?

WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR?

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

How do others see you? If someone was to describe you what would your testimony be to them? More importantly how do you stand before the Lord? If we are bringing honor to our Saviour then our conversation or our testimony before others should be honorable. What are you telling your co-workers, your family, and your friends about your Saviour with your actions? 

There is an old children’s song that goes something like this, be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little feet where you go. Maybe we as adults, teens, and children need to get back to songs like this so that it will affect our testimony! Maybe we need to put down the remote, the game controller, the phone, and/or the computer and get back to the Word of God.

LOVE AGAIN

   Marriage is one of the greatest things we can do on Earth.

Mark 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

            When a man and woman commit their lives one to the other, I would imagine neither of them are looking to divorce in the future. I would imagine they both are looking for a lifetime of memories. Unfortunately, life happens. One or the other becomes unsatisfied with the way the other is going and before you know it, they end up on an episode of Jerry Springer.

            It’s a sad day when a couple that was once in love with one another succumbs to Satan’s temptation to quit. But, instead of divorce, how does a couple mend hearts and love again? Sacrifice. Both parties must live a life of sacrifice. They must say, “Not my will but God’s will be done.” Sacrifice like our Saviour sacrificed, obediently. Learn to love like Jesus loves; unconditionally. Learn to forgive like Jesus forgives; limitless. Learn to compromise in the non-essentials. Do things together. When you sacrifice your will for the will of your spouse, you will begin to mend, heal, and love again!          

HOW BUSY ARE YOU?

There is no failure except in no longer trying. -Elbert Hubbard

2 Timothy 3:14, But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,

            We’re always so busy comparing ourselves to others and feeling like failures in this area or that area for whatever reason. Yet, we always seem to do for others and put ourselves last. Scripture tells us to love the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul and mind. Then to love our neighbor as ourselves. If we don’t love ourselves and find value in ourselves, we CANNOT keep the second commandment! Each of us (that means YOU) are valuable and have purpose. Don’t lose your own focus while you're focusing on someone else and their so-called perfections.

DO YOU REMEMBER?

            Nor father or mother has loved you as God has, for it was that you might be happy when He gave His only Son.  When He bowed His head in the death hour, love solemnized its triumph; the sacrifice there was completed. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Song of Solomon 2:4, He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

            The depth of God’s love spans anything we can truly fathom. Think about it for a moment; the God of Heaven sent His only begotten Son to die on the Cross of Calvary for you and me! That still gives me goose bumps!

            Do you remember the day you got saved? Does it still excite you? Have you lost the joy, peace, and contentment salvation brought? Be assured God has not changed! He still loves you and wants you to follow Him! He wants that communion that you once had. He wants you to call out to Him! He is ready to forgive if you are ready to ask! Will you?